JRL condemns rape, murder of Kathua minor girl

Demands stern punishment against culprits

Srinagar, Feb 22 (KNS): Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, strongly condemning the brutal rape and murder of minor Asifa of Kathua, addressed a press conference at Abi Guzar Srinagar, the leadership demanded stern punishment against the culprits involved in the act and strongly denounced those who are trying to shield the culprits.
In a statement issued to KNS, the leadership said that nothing can be more evil and shameless than supporting the rapists and murderers of an 8 year old girl child and then threatening the community to which the child belonged with dire consequence.
They said that it reflects the total moral bankruptcy of BJP in supporting Hindu Ekta Manch that is threatening the Gujjars in Kathua and completely exposes its communal and anti humanity mindset for reaping political dividends.
The leadership stated that “the color given to this gruesome incident by those who share power with the PDP is a blot on the face of India’s democracy.”
Addressing the press conference over phone, Syed Ali Geelani said that no religion in the world allows the rape of minors and the recent incident of rape and murder of minor Asifa is not only heart wrenching but also condemnable in all words.
He said that “the incident is a blot on the face of entire humanity and the act deserves all forms of condemnation.”
Geelani demanded that those involved in the gruesome act of rape of minor Asifa that there is unanimous demand of people of entire Jammu and Kashmir that the guilty should be brought to book and hanged in public. He said the people irrespective of their religion also support the same punishment to the guilty and it’s the collective responsibility of all the humans living in the J&K state to ensure stern punishment to the people involved in the rape and murder of Asifa.
Geelani said that PDP and its ally BJP is trying hard to trigger a communal flare up in the region and this is the reason that BJP and its allies like RSS and Hindu Ekta Manch is giving a communal touch to trigger fire in the J&K region which is already witnessing worst form of oppression. He strongly condemned the efforts of RSS and Hindu Ekta Manch members to instill fear and harass the poor members of Gujjar community which is not tolerable to the people of the State.
In his telephonic address, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the rape and murder of eight-year-old girl Asifa deserves highest form of condemnation and efforts by the ruling dispensation to shield and to give cover to the real culprits is the biggest irony. He said the incident has left the people of all communities of J&K in deep shock and grief. He said what has further hurt the sentiments of people of J&K is the efforts of cover up by the ruling regimes partner the BJP, which is trying hard to protect the men involved in this gruesome act. Mirwaiz said that it was ironical that RSS and BJP backed Hindu Ekta Manch are openly carrying out protest marches in favour of guilty and threatening boycotts and hartals which reflects their true colors and bias visa-vis Kashmir and Muslims of the State.
Mirwaiz said that it was more painful that on one hand rape of minor is being committed and on the other, pro-Hindutva forces are rallying behind the culprits to ensure they are protected and given a safe passage. He said that it is highly condemnable that culprits and their supporters are threatening and warning the poor members of Muslim Gujjar community. He cautioned that targeting the Gujjar members will have serious repercussion’s, which deserves highest condemnation,
In his speech, Muhammad Yasin Malik said that the Muslim of entire Jammu region are being subjected to worst form of repression resulting in their insecurity and the incident that has taken place at Kathua is not gruesome but has shaken the entire humanity. He said warnings and threats issued to Gujjar community is highly deplorable. HE said the RSS backed Hindu Ekta Manch is on the fore front of supporting the real culprits is an eye opener how government is trying to shield the real culprits. He said that once again the vision and programs of fascists have come to open forum.
He said that not only in Jammu and Kashmir, but in entire India, that Muslisms are feeling insecure across India and this has happened soon after the BJP led regime took the reins of power. He said at some time, Love Jihad, Beef or sometimes, Muslims and other minorities are subjected to worst form of repression. He said that the rape and murder of Asifa has should have shaken all those who believe in human values and democracy in India and their criminal silence over this gruesome incident is a big blot on their faces. He said that JRL and the people of JK are demanding in Unison that the guilty involved in the act be hanged. He said that Jammu Muslims can’t be left on the mercy of communal elements and fanatic elements and that people of Kashmir will stand shoulder to shoulder with Muslims of Jammu.
Many others including members from civil society and traders address the press conference that include Professor Veshnavovi, Father Veno, Muhammad Yasin Khan, and Parveena Ahanger, the speakers demanded stern action against the guilty involved in the act and condemned those who are trying to shield the guilty.
Meanwhile, on the call of JRL, a massive protest was staged which was led by JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik at Lal Chowk, but as usually, forces once again resorted to brute use of force and detained Malik and dozens of other pro-freedom activists and lodged them in various police stations that include Showkat Bakshi, Advocate Yasir Dalal,Muhamamd Yousuf Naqash, Sufi Mushtaq Ahmad, Advocate Surat Shakeel, Mukhtar Ahmed Sofi, Yasmeen Rajan, M. Sadiq Guru, G M Dar, Imtiyaz Ganai, Basharat Bhat, Imtiyaz Ah Dar, Javaid Zargar, Saahil Ahmad War, Zahoor Butt, Jaffar Kashmiri, Umar Adil Dar, M Shafi Dar, Arif Khan, Umar Pal, Bashir Bhat, M. Saleem Nanaji, Imtiyaz Haider and others. The police also arrested chairperson of APDP Parveena Ahangar , Yasmin Raja and others.
Condemning the arrests of Pro-freedom leaders and activists, the JRL said that such repressive measures can’t break the resolve of neither the leadership nor the people of Kashmir and such tactics can’t force the people of Kashmir into submission and can’t stop them from raising voice against the unabated human rights violations and endless atrocities. (KNS)